Dogs

[Slim Chance]

It seems like I have met a large number of dogs on various calls lately. Lots of Pit mixes and a few that appeared to be all Pit. One large Rotty and a few Mastiffs. One Mastiff was hell bent on eating me until it stopped and looked back at her owner. The owner told her I was a friend and the dog was a whole different animal. The Rotty let me pet her before trying to eat my backup officer. All of the Pits have been either very friendly or wary at first but warmed up quickly.
Anybody else considered friendly by most dogs?

 

[DeathGrip]

Yes, Most dogs know if you're good people. I make fast friends with most.

My name's DG and I'm a Dog Lover.

On the other hand, You can tell a lot about people by their dogs.

 

[bobelk99]

I met a vast number of dogs in my second job over the years. I learned the proper mannerisms, and generally was easily accepted.

Note: Worst encounter was with a Collie, not dreaded Roth or Pit. That one got me for 13 stitches!

 

[shouldazagged]

Dogs generally seem to like me, though there are exceptions. I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them. I'm a fairly dour-looking old guy, and a lot of humans look at me and shy away, missing seeing the laugh lines; but dogs seem to see through the look.

 

[sheepdawg]

I have a buddy that could not believe I was in his front yard playing with his 85 lb. killer pitbull. I usually get along well with most dogs, my one mistake was with a boxer and I probably asked for it.

 

[Fishslayer]

Dogs usually seem to like me. This was an asset in my single days. I heard a lot of "He usually doesn't like men!"

There are protocols in the dog world. Follow them and you'll probably be OK. Dogs ALWAYS have a reason for the things they do and to them they make perfect sense. Many things we do from affection is considered threatening by a strange dog.

Dogs have very readable body language if you pay attention. They never do anything "without warning." Our present foster is very subtle and only gives you about a half second to react though. We're working on it.

By nature big Rotties are usually teddy bears unless they've been taught to be otherwise.

I don't know how, but I think they can sense someone who likes them.

Dogs are VERY perceptive. They definitely pick up on things we humans don't. On occasion I've had a dog that for some reason just didn't like somebody. Turned out they were right.

Cesar Milan says that dogs can perceive nervousness and fear through a leash. I believe it.

 

[dmar]

Animals and kids love me. Everyone else, it's hit, or miss...

I had a Lab that absolutely picked up on 'bad guys.' Friendliest dog you ever met, except a couple of times when he encountered the wrong person. Not going to type out the instances, but I am convinced that they have a special sense about these things. Those lovable Labs can get pretty intense when they want to...

 

[mac2]

...probably the most awesomest creatures on the planet...

Many dogs I haven't met before seem to like me too - others have commented so; like others here, I think they can sense if you genuinely like them which I do.

 

[Wolf1775]

Most dogs seem to get along with me, or at least tolerate me. My wife says that I have a very "aggressive" presence, so that doesn't help me win favors with "softer" dogs. Then again, her version of "soft" are the ones that are a bit neurotic and easily spooked, so that's pretty much everyone they meet who doesn't know how to deal with a dog like that.

Currently have 4 German Shepherds, 2 males and 2 bitches. One of the bitches is owned by someone else but my wife is training her to be shown later. She's "soft", but has warmed up to me some lately. Now she follows me around the house and wags her tail when I rub the base of her ears. Our bitch, Wesson, is daddy's girl and damn near tackles me when I come home from work. Apparently I was just her favorite from the get go.

The two males are my wife's service dogs, so they're very much her boys. The old man, Strauss, is turning 10 and retiring from being a service dog soon. She's had him since he was 8 weeks old, and apparently he's only ever liked one other human male: my wife's brother. He's told off her ex on multiple occasion (rightfully so), and defended her at a rest stop from an angry trucker. He wagged his tail and let me curl up with her without showing teeth or raising his hackles, so apparently that's what convinced her that I'm a keeper.

Wesson and I playing with the F-bomb (frisbee)

Strauss aka "Mouse" and I doing some bite work when he was 8 years old.

The "new" boy, Loch, sitting after heeling.

 

[RonJ]

I was at a family get together to see my new niece. My sister had one of the meanest most aggressive Chihuahuas I've ever seen. Trying to attack everyone but her owner. The dog was on a long leash in the back yard. Well it finally came my turn to carry the baby. She was about seven months old. I took her into the back yard and all the ladies, on the second floor deck, were yelling not to get the baby near the dog. When I walked by I noticed the dog was very calm, so I took a knee about a foot from the leash limits. Mary Kate (the baby) thought that dog was the most wonderful thing she'd ever seen, waving her arms and smiling and looking back and forth between me and the dog. The Chihuahua felt the same about her and seemed entranced by the baby. My sister said she'd never seen the dog act that way towards strangers.
One of my favorite memories.

 

[vito]

Dog temperament is a function of both breeding and how they are raised. Breeds that have been bred to be aggressive, where mild mannered ones were neutered or killed, are much more likely to be a problem than those bred for more sociability. Raising a dog in a positive way, with exposure to other people also contributes to a healthy demeanor.

I think that the choice of a dog tells me more about the owner than about the dog. Its clear to me that many people choose a breed to make up for their own negative self image, i.e., a person who wants to appear tough and aggressive but inwardly does not really feel confident in that demeanor may buy an aggressive looking or behaving dog breed. Its as if the person were saying "Look at my tough, scary dog and know that I am tough and scary even if I don't really look that way myself".

A person with a confident self image can buy almost any dog breed without the concern over what other people might think, like a former martial arts instructor that I knew that raised tiny Pekinese dogs.

Dogs do have the ability to sense intentions by a human's behavior and possible smell and may react accordingly.

 

[BearBio]

One thing I have noticed: As I've related before, I am a High-Functioning Autistic (aka Asperger's Syndrome). Many of us go into the sciences and computers, especially biology. I can recognize people with autistic tendencies right away. I have noticed that autistics tend to build an instant rapport with animals, not just dogs. I've too many examples of making friends with "attack dogs", "killer" dogs, pits, rotties, junk-yard dogs to list here.

When I retire in about 5 years, my wife has expressed a desire that I return to school to get my PhD in animal behavior (I'll only be 69 or 70). I am very seriously interested/thinking about doing a doctoral dissertation on this topic.

 

[Len]

I get along with most animals, especially dogs. The evil ones I've come across seem to settle for peaceful coexistence, they go their way, and I go mine.

I am, however cursed with a "cat whisperer" reputation. Let me be clear...I am a dog person through and through. I have no problems with cats, however, I had a pair when I lived in an apartment, and they were wonderful pets. But when visiting other people's houses my wife and I repeatedly hear that the owners are surprised that their cats are sitting on my lap, wanting to be petted. "He never goes near anyone, and when people get close, he scratches or bites." ...it's a gift?

One interesting dog interaction. At the local park, watching my grand nephews playing in the kid area. I was sitting on a park bench working on finishing an ice cream cone. I was surprised to look to my right, and there on the bench was a very large and dark GSD. He just sat there staring at the ice cream cone. Without thinking, I just handed him the end of the cone as I would've done with one of my own dogs.

Then he dropped to a down on the bench and started licking my hands. Next thing I knew a local deputy walked over and chided his dog...."Zeus! What are you doing?"

Turns out it was a retired K9 from the sheriff's office. The deputy told me that he'd been living at home since his canine retirement for five years, but loved to go to the park where he used to spend a lot of hours working.

He also said that at home, the dog knew the end of the ice cream cone belonged to him there, too.

Len

 

[Comrad]

For reasons unknown to me I seem to attract dogs, babies and old ladies.

 

[Doug M.]

Had a funny of this sort yesterday at the PO. I came out and an older guy was holding the leash on a young Beagle; turned out he was waiting for his wife. I stopped for a moment and just looked at the Beagle, and to the apparent surprise of his owner, started pulling toward me. He sniffed at me and sat for his petting. I don't think the Beagle's people were used to that reaction from the dog or other people - the dog was fascinated with me.

BearBio: What about an Aspy that becomes a lawyer? Not naming anyone, of course.

 

[carpriver]

I seem to attract dogs also. but I am one that will get down to their level and talk to them and pet them. My son took in a Pit Bull for a few days so the owner could find it a good home. That was 4 years ago, Joe is a sweet big baby that wants to lay on your lap. Joe is very protective of his family, and waits for the mail man, the mail man brings Joe a biscuit everyday.

 

[gm272gs]

I have never met a dog I didn't like or who didn't like me.

Cats I must admit, I don't understand. I don't wish anything bad upon them, but I don't get why they're not extinct.

 

[Fishslayer]

but I don't get why they're not extinct.

They are a VERY efficient predator and breed like, well... cats.

Also... they have 9 lives.

 

[Wolf1775]

My cat has picked up behaviors from our dogs and has figured out that sometimes giving behaviors on cue nets rewards. It's amusing having a cat the comes to you when you call him and sits for his food. I wish he wouldn't sit on my shoulders and try to groom my ears when I'm playing XBox or typing at my laptop though...

 

[427mach1]

Many years ago I went to Daytona with a friend and we were visiting a former professor of his, who happened to own a very large male Doberman named Rommel. I was laying on my back on the floor and Rommel laid down beside me, crossed his front feet across my chest, looked directly in my eyes, and gave out the most pathetic whine, begging for attention. The professor could not believe it as the dog had never taken to a stranger that way.

A friend of mine has a young German Shepherd. The other night, she could not figure out why her dog would nip at her whenever she turned her back. Then she spotted her 13 year old son, pointing a laser at her backside, at which time the dog would attack the laser point! Apparently cats aren't the only ones that chase laser dots around!